Short Story: The Children are Free

This particular piece was originally published 04/29/2014 and you can find it here. In early 2021, I jumped on to fan wagon for the series The Chosen and after reading this, you will see why. It was really encouraging and exciting to see captivating and beautiful storytelling as well as acting revolving around the Gospels.

Though I haven’t done it as often as I have in the past, storytelling through writing is something I enjoy doing. I began editing this piece a few months ago in anticipation of, The Chosen – Season 4, and after seeing the first three episodes in the theater over the weekend, I believe it is finally time to share this.

Tom

The following is a fictionalized version of the accounts found in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 17.

Near sunset, alone in a boat, gently rocking back and forth on the water, sat Peter. He was listening to the gentle groan of the boat, the water lapping at its sides, the occasional breeze, the gulls and waterfowl. The rest of the men were back at the house with Jesus. Peter let his mind wander to what his brothers had been up to today. He wondered if Jesus might be sharing something with them that he was missing out on. Since he was a little hungry, he also thought about the food that they would be preparing for the evening meal.

Peter lingered on the thought of food; it had been a long day.

But lingering on food or what everyone else was doing with Jesus wouldn’t help him accomplish his task. He just needed to catch a fish.

One. Fish.

He had already been out on the water for a few hours now and was coming up short, embarrassingly short for a lifelong fisherman. True, it had been awhile since he had been in a boat to fish, but it hadn’t been that long. Right? Definitely not long enough to forget the wisdom, experience, tricks, techniques and approaches gained from years of making a living at this. A little earlier, Peter had seen a few fishermen bringing in some successful catches, they’d recognized him and exchanged short pleasantries and few laughs, perhaps one or two teasingly at his expense, before continuing on. After that, Peter had set out to where they had come from and was now a good distance out from the Capernaum shoreline of the Galilean Sea and still… nothing.

Not a single fish with each cast and retrieval of his net.

I’ll stay out here all night, through dawn and the next day and night if that is what it takes. I just need a fish.

Just. One. Fish. That’s all Jesus asked for.

Despite not being successful thus far, this task was a welcome one. It felt good to be out on the water, real good. Things always seemed much simpler out on the water. You sail or row out to where you want, you cast your net, you wait, retrieve and cast again. Repeat as necessary. Simple. Mostly. Peter cast his net again and sat down, wrestling with what was truly bothering him and it wasn’t a fish.

When you are following Jesus, a lot happens. A lot had happened recently.

About ten days ago, Jesus took Peter, James and John on a walk up on a mountain. Peter didn’t think that he would ever forget the way Jesus looked up there. It was still Him but, even more so. Even down to his clothes. Was there even a word for what happened?

And then there was the Light…

To say the light had heat would be misguided and inadequate. The sun had heat when it shone, candles, furnaces, cooking fires… they had light and heat. This surpassed them all. There was so much light and brilliance; it was all around Jesus, within Him and without him. He shone like the sun…yet they could still see Him. There was even a heat, a warmth that Peter felt down in his very soul that he never knew he was missing, until that day. He looked powerful, so very powerful. Truly he had seen Messiah as He is, the Son of God… yet they were still alive after seeing these things…

How was that even possible?

And then as if this wasn’t enough, two men appeared to walk up behind Jesus and address him. None of this seemed to surprise Jesus as He was still very much Himself and addressing them as old friends and brothers.

On the water, Peter’s cheeks flushed warm with slight embarrassment as he remembered asking Jesus if he could build special places for Jesus, Moses and Elijah there on the mountain and how he got sidetracked and began to excitedly ramble. Wait, how do I know who them? James, John – it’s Elijah and Moses!! Jesus didn’t say anything and the Prophets didn’t come over and introduce themselves. Yet, we know! How is this possible?! This is so good that we are here! Lord, if you want let us build three tabernacles for You, Elijah and Moses…

And then the dreadful fear he felt when The Voice came out from the heavens,

“This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

And just as quickly as he felt the fear, it was replaced with great comfort as he felt Jesus’s hand on his shoulder telling him to get up and to not be afraid. They need not be afraid in the Presence of The Most High ? How could this be? And as soon as they all stood up, it was over. The Prophets were gone and Jesus looked like He always did.

Peter, James and John did as Jesus commanded and didn’t tell a soul about what they saw. They kept that secret until after The Resurrection. On the way down the mountain, Jesus clarified a few things they were concerned about. It was always interesting to watch how He answered their questions: always truthful, sometimes serious, other times joking or teasingly to make a point, or casual and matter-of-fact like this time.

Nearly finishing the last stretch from their trek on mountain, they noticed a crowd below them. John recognized a few of the disciples and Peter saw the others among the crowd. They had been doing as Jesus instructed, preaching the Kingdom and healing the sick. The boys had seen much success with healing those who needed it but they had come to one they couldn’t heal. This poor kid was passed through each of the disciples and then equally puzzled and discouraged, they brought the boy to Jesus along with his father.

The father told Jesus the story: his son was an epileptic and it had gotten so bad that he was severely hurting himself when the seizures took him; falling into anything from cooking fires to water. The response Jesus gave to the rest of them was firm, exasperated even. Then He received the boy so gently, so openly; a welcoming smile on a face dirty with dust and sweat from a trek up and down a mountain. Later that evening after the crowd had left, the disciples were gathered around a small fire, sharing dinner with Jesus and John prompted Peter to ask why they couldn’t heal him. His answer felt like encouragement and a rebuke all at the same time, leaving no room for pride or offense. All three, belief, prayer and fasting were needed here. Full reliance on the power of the Most High.

All these events had been piling up in Peter’s mind. Even more than that, just a few days ago, in fact, Jesus was saying he was to be killed. What was that all about?

Peter would never let that happen.

And then there was earlier today. Peter was out on an errand for the family hosting the disciples in their home when he was approached by the authorities from the temple who collected the temple tax.

They knew who Peter was and who he followed.

“Does your Teacher not pay the Temple Tax?”

Was this a trick? Were they trying to trip up my Master through me now? They just can’t handle the competition, can they?

“Yes, of course He does.” Peter responded, slightly annoyed. What Jew wouldn’t pay the Temple Tax? He thought to himself. They walked off without saying a word, one of them scribbling something down.

What was that all about?

Peter had had about all he could take for now; the glory on the mountain, the boy – both why he wasn’t healed and then why he was – Jesus saying he was going to die and now these petty, jealous Temple tax collectors. Not to mention everything Peter had seen at Jesus’s side since he began following him. His mind was going into overload.

Back on the boat, Peter pulled in his nets again. Nothing. An exasperatedly loud sigh coming out as he gathered them back up and recast.

I just need one bloody fish! Not a big fish. Not a large catch of fish. Just. One. Fish!

Still irritated by the Temple tax collectors, Peter had come back to the house to see Jesus helping one of the women with some of the evening meal preparations. A frustrated look on Peter’s face, a playful smile and an inquisitive look on Jesus’s face.

“Simon, I’d like to know your thoughts. Tell me, when kings collect duty and taxes… do they collect these from their children or from the other people?”

“Well, the others, of course.”

“Then the children are free.” Jesus looked up from his task, letting what he just said sink in, waiting for Peter to get the underlying message of the Kingdom. Peter’s look didn’t change much, but Jesus could tell things were starting to move.

He continued, with a lightly sarcastic tone, “But…so we don’t offend those who do not understand such things, I tell you what…” Jesus walked over to Peter and put his hands on his shoulders. “Go fishing. The first fish you catch, open its mouth, in there you’ll find a four-drachma coin, which is enough to pay my temple tax and yours.”

Jesus walked back to finish his task.

“Do I bring any fish back home for the meal?”

“Just do as I said Peter, you’ll find what you are looking for out there.”

Back at the boat, in the remaining twilight, Peter thought more about everything he’d seen and heard. He was taking a step back, looking at the larger picture as he heard again his Lord’s words, “The children are free…”.  

The Kingdom was so much more than what the majority of teachers in Israel believed and taught. It seemed like it was so much more than what any of his disciples had even dared to believe and think. Jesus was challenging everyone’s ideas of the Kingdom. Peter recalled hints of it throughout the Prophets and the Law, and things Jesus had said clarifying the Scriptures. So many things were being turned upside down. Of all these things, Peter knew one thing, Jesus really knew. It was more than insight, definitely more. Everything he taught was with authority, like someone who had firsthand knowledge and experience. The very Spirit of God was with Him and in Him.

He was the Son of the Living God.

Peter began pulling on the net and felt the familiar tug of the catch. At last! Peter pulled furiously on the rope. He pulled the net up on the boat, it looked like a good handful of fish; a mix of Tilapia and Carp, twelve… maybe fifteen?

Peter heard Jesus’s voice again, “The first fish…”

Peter opened the net and dove his hands in, looking away, not trying to pick one fish over the other. The first one he grabbed was a good sized Tilapia – for its species – and a lively fighter, reminding Peter just slightly of himself. Sitting back, in the fish’s fight for freedom, he saw the faintest glint of metal as its mouth opened and closed. Having handled fish since he was a small boy, Peter easily opened the fish’s mouth and sure enough pulled out a coin. It had some silt and filth on it but there was no mistaking the shape of a coin. Peter put the coin on the bench next to him and with a small laugh, kissed the tilapia and then released it into the water before letting the other fish loose.

Sitting back down, he wiped the coin off. The size was familiar to him, and in the light of a small lantern he had lit, was able to read the inscription as he wiped the small bits of filth and silt on the coin.

It was a silver Tyrian shekel…

A Four-Drachma coin.

Well into the dusk, with the night rapidly enveloping the heavens, Peter began to chuckle which then erupted into full on laughter. Holding the coin up in the air, still laughing, he shouted to the sky, “The first fish!”.

Peter had not noticed but some time before the catch, Jesus had come down to the shoreline to watch his friend and disciple work things out. Hearing Peter’s laughter carry across the water, Jesus smiled, stood up from driftwood he was sitting on and walked back towards the house.

After Peter had returned to shore and tidied up the nets, he walked back into town and found the two men. Though evening, these men were still wandering about inquiring about and collecting the temple tax.

“Well, well…” Said one.

“So have you spoken to your Teacher?” Said the other.

Peter smiled. “From whom do the kings collect their duty and taxes? Their children or the people?”

“The people of course.” Said one.

Peter laughed. “Indeed, so then the children are free!” He handed over the four-drachma coin. “But…” Mirroring his Master’s words. “Just to make sure you aren’t offended by what I’m saying… this is for me and my Teacher. Now, if you’re satisfied, I’m hungry and will be having my supper now.”

Peter walked off, leaving them with a puzzled look on their face.

“What do you mean the children are free?” One of them called out.

“I guess you’ll have to figure that one out yourself. Maybe take some time and go fishing!”

Grilling Sacred Cows – The Tithe: Finale

How is it sometimes, that appetizers and leftovers are more satisfying than the main course?

While I do not think that this final installment is the chef’s kiss, for some reason it reminds me of appetizers and leftovers.

In the course of an actual meal, some of the thoughts below may have been better served as appetizers in the first post. With the main meal being in the second post and, of course, some of the thoughts below being served as leftovers in the finale.

Nonetheless, here it is in all its glory, or lack thereof to do with it what you will. All in all, I do hope if edifies in one way or another.

If you haven’t read the first two installments, I’d suggest you start with these links: Part 1 and Part 2.

Bon Appetit

Tom

The Bone to Pick

As I’ve revisited and revised this series, I noticed something. The bone I have mainly to pick regarding this subject revolves around a certain area of Christianity. The practice of tithing that I have been describing to you seems to be more prevalent in the Pentecostal or Charismatic Evangelical circles as well as “non-denominational” Evangelical churches who, from my impression, usually have a contemporary flair to them with some flavor of Pentecostal or Charismatic, though they usually do not go as far down the path. To be sure, with very few exceptions, as I was reflecting on my time of “comparing notes” years ago with other believers about their church experience, I was talking to many people who had come out of churches with similar backgrounds and scriptural leaning. Looking back, I would dare say the majority of pastors, teachers, preachers and evangelists – well known or unknown – who preached the tithe as I learned and understood it, were predominantly in the those circles. Further, in varying degrees of belief or support, they were connected to the Prosperity Gospel and “name it and claim it” bunch.

I was tempted to put a list of the “well-known” preachers and evangelists on here, but I decided that wasn’t what I was after. I will mention one, however, as he has apparently repented of his prior teachings: world-renowned televangelist and mega-church pastor, Creflo Dollar renounced past teachings on giving and tithing. He went so far, the article states, to say in his message, “throw away every book, every tape, and every video I ever did on the subject of tithing.“ How about that!

As my wife and I look for a church to attend in our area, imagine the surprise and relief of yours truly after visiting a few churches in my area and seeing that they do not harp on, belabor or take any sort of time preaching on tithing or giving. Of the services we’ve been to, these particular churches either perform a song and pass the plate around for those who wish to give during that time, or they have a giving box located in the back of the church for people to give as they wish – or both.

Giving to your church body in a faithful manner isn’t wrong by any means. Hopefully I’ve made that clear in the subtext. My bone to pick is with anyone who uses Scriptures to emotionally manipulate money out of the hands of believers and in to the coffers of a church or pockets of a minister.

Leftover Malachi served with a sprig of Matthew

I want to first refresh your memory with the oft quoted command of tithing as captured in the book of Malachi:

“Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
⁹ You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.

¹¹ “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the Lord of hosts;
¹² “And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 3:8-12, NKJV

Now, we haven’t yet covered Matthew 6, but many of the preachers/teachers of the tithe like to sprinkle Jesus’s words in here to further emphasize the necessity of giving/tithing (first to your church and then to other ministries as you see fit):

¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Jesus, Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV

I’m not going to try and breakdown Jesus’s words here nor would I dare to argue Jesus on what He said. I agree that there most certainly is a heart issue at play here. Having worked with finances and people’s money in one form or another for over two decades, people’s priorities are shown to a good degree in their spending. That said, I contend that it is manipulation to say that if you don’t give to your church or a particular minister or ministry, that it is proof that your heart isn’t heavenly minded.

With all that I’ve said up until now, one can boil down the message that is spread to these four points:

• Tithing is required by God (you can’t afford to not give) – Malachi 3
• Not giving/tithing (to a church/ministry/minister) is robbing God – Malachi 3
• Tithing & giving is the key to removing curses in life – Malachi 3
• Your heart is heavenly minded only if you are financially giving – Matthew 6

Conflict of Interest

Before I left the last church I was at, I had a heartbreaking encounter with a sister in Christ. She knew me as I “ministered” to her children in the Youth Group. She came to me for advice before a Sunday service. There we stood in the large foyer and she was asking me what to do regarding giving and tithing. She wanted to tithe but her husband was against it because they couldn’t afford it.  She tells me that she wants to give but she doesn’t want to cause strife between her and her husband. 

What do I think and what should she do?

Giving is the issue here. For all intents and purposes, she wants to be involved and she wants to give. I assure her that God sees her heart. I assure her that God desires unity between husband and wife more than tithing and that they aren’t going to be cursed if they don’t tithe.  I go on to assure her that God will show her ways to give like she desires to give and love and honor her husband at the same time, because the giving she wants to do is from the heart.  I give her examples of serving like the giving of her time; serving and blessing others. She seems to be encouraged and relieved at this news. We part ways and go to our separate pews and get ready for the morning service.

And guess what the message was about that Sunday morning? Tithing.

If ever there was a facepalm moment… 

What is she to think?  Who is she to believe?  I’ve just told her she isn’t cursed for not being able to tithe and one of the very first things the pastor says is that we have to tithe in order to remove the curse.

Tithing without Legalism – does that even exist?

Let us extend Grace here. For the average believer, what is or “should” be at the heart of the tithing issue?

It is giving, right? Where to give, how to give, what to give and doing it joyfully with an open heart and hand. Giving with a heart that doesn’t seek to be seen for how much or when they give. Giving because a good cause is before us and we wish to give to it, yes? What better causes are there than the ones that advance the interests of the Kingdom?

I have to pause here, for I feel like a hypocrite. I haven’t given directly to a local church body or a solid ministry in a long time. Further, while I did seek out opportunities to make direct impact on people and a blessing, the amount of giving was definitely less compared to what I was routinely giving to the church. I didn’t do it to earn salvation or brownie points but sometimes I wonder if I had underlying motivations weren’t always what they “should” be.

I guess the bottom line here is: Make no mistake, I am not the best example in the ideals I’m espousing. I too, like many of us, have a hard time consistently matching the walk and the talk.

Moving on.

Can we “tithe” without falling in to a legalistic routine, without believing we must in order to be free of some curse?

I believe so. If you want to give 10% of your income, gross or net, whatever – you are completely free to do so.

What and how should you give? This is completely between God and you. If you are married, then it is between God, you and your spouse. If you are going to a church that is producing good fruit, helping to bring the Gospel to those who need it as well as giving good instruction from The Word – why wouldn’t you want to support them? If they aren’t doing these things: why would you want to stay anyways?

Further, any requirement of giving in order to be members needs to be taken seriously and prayerfully. This is a requirement set forth by men; fully fallible human beings, prone to mistakes and sin like the rest of us.

Practical Applications

Can there be practical applications for “tithing”? I’d like to think so.

Take 10% of your income and put it in a savings account, just let it build. Save for emergencies, unforeseen expenses, vacations and having funds stored up for when you want to give to a charity or ministry.  Having these kinds of funds available reminds me of what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 9. Specifically, when you have promised a gift (to a coming minister), prepare ahead of time and be ready so you aren’t grudgingly getting it together. Purpose in your heart ahead of time what you will give, so that you may do it cheerfully with an open hand and open heart. There is a difference between giving because you “have to” meet a requirement and giving abundantly according to who you are in Christ and what He has done for you and blessed you with.

You could also use the tithe model to pay down your debts. Take 10% of your income, above what you are minimally paying on your debts and attack them to pay the debt off faster.  As you do this, increase the momentum with the snowball effect, adding what you used to pay on one debt that is now gone to another debt and get free faster!  What does it say in Romans, it is best to owe no man anything except to love him…?

Amusing Amuse-Bouche

I had to look that word up too. It is a bite-size appetizer, similar to hors d’oeuvres. So, the following are small little tidbits, no more than a bite or two.

• Tithing was never gold, silver or the coin of the realm or empire. It was constantly referred to in the Old Testament as the tithing of: grain, dough, fruit, produce, wine, oil, honey, herds and flocks – food. Quickly back to Malachi 3, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house”. It was to provide food for the Levites, priests, etc.

• What do you make of Jesus’s words in Matthew 23:23? “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.” No matter how faithfully one pays the tithe, one isn’t necessarily being generous, nor are they necessarily paying attention to things that matter more to God. One is merely meeting a requirement. In Luke 11, this “woe” is recorded as well with slightly different verbiage, “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”

• Jesus used a Parable in Luke 18:9-14 which mentions tithing, let us take a look at it: “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:  “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Notice that Jesus shows how the Pharisee lists his qualifications to God, is this not a picture of human nature? We wish to list all our righteous deeds, when in the end, without Christ, they are no more than garbage.

• The only mention of tithes in the New Testament to Christians is in the book of Hebrews and it isn’t instructions for Christians to tithe. Nowhere in the book of Acts, when the believers willingly pooled their resources, did the Apostles remind them of the law to tithe. Nowhere does Paul remind his Gentile converts that they need to tithe.  In fact, Paul gets more angry at people trying to make his Gentile converts observe the Law!  What is more, the term “fallen from Grace” comes from Paul’s writings, see Ephesians 5:4 “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.“

• To my reading of the New Testament, there is no doubt that giving and offerings within the Body, supporting believers as well as ministers of the Gospel, is definitely encouraged. What is the primary end for the means of tithes and offerings at a church nowadays? Where does the majority go first? Overhead. Mortgage expenses, property taxes, utilities, salaries, supplies, etc. Then it will possibly take some of that to mission work and outreach.  These are understandable to a degree, but it still begs the question whether this is really what God intended for His Church?

• Many people who practice tithing are doing it with a sincere heart. I and many who share my current view were all tithing and giving sincerely. This isn’t the issue. The issue is that these ideas are promulgated not just from the pulpit but also by those who practice it – so it feeds itself, so to speak. Freely and willfully giving, offering, supporting the works in the Body that are worthy shouldn’t stop. The “doctrine” of tithing as I’ve been laying it out, and any other deceptive form it takes, should stop.

We aren’t being taught that we have also been made in the image of God in his generosity.  We have settled for the ‘safe’ requirement of knowing how much to give instead of the ‘dangerous’ method of giving as we determine in our hearts to give (which means to give not only as you are led, but as you are moved to give).  It’s a dangerous thing to give according to who you are in Jesus.  I’ve been learning that.  Because giving like that requires a generosity that isn’t based on anyone else’s performance.  You go to a restaurant, for example, and instead of mentally taking away money from your server with every mistake or minute that she is late with the food – instead you give generously no matter how bad his or her service was.  Because it is not about her performance, it is about who YOU are in Christ! You’ve been given a great gift by Grace, God’s unmerited favor, should you not extend grace to the one who served you?

In Closing …

I wouldn’t recommend it, but if you were to go back through the original three parts and compared them – there is much that I have deleted, revised and added to. I did these revisions because I’ve been on a homecoming journey for a couple years. It’s the only thing I can really call it, homecoming. Jesus coming to find a wandering lost Hobbit. I won’t be going back through all of my old stuff. There are a few fictional pieces that I thought were rather good and I may revisit them. But I plan, God willing, to share more current thoughts with you in the future.

Any blessings that I have are all by the Grace of God, not due to tithing. Out of my own “Christian” efforts or lack thereof, from the stubbornness I have as His child and of the sins I’ve committed and commit… I deserve none of the blessings I’ve received. It is His Grace and His Grace only that permits and allows the blessings I’ve had. His blessings are His prerogative, not mine.

He loves me. He loves you, too, dear reader.

His blessings on my life or your life are not determined by how faithful our tithing is.  His Goodness and Grace lead me continually to the waters of repentance.

I hope they do that for you, too.

Grilling Sacred Cows – The Tithe: Part 2

Welcome back!

In Part 1, my dear reader, you indulged me as I gave quite the backstory and prologue before getting in to the meat of it. Though not a scholar or theologian by any measure, I contended that Jesus is the lens to view through when interpreting Scripture, including the teachings of tithing. I emphasized that I am not trying to villainize anyone who teaches these things (unless, of course, they know better; doing it in order to have the money coming in) and that many people who teach this, I believe, are sincere and genuine. I further emphasized that the believer should give as the Spirit of God leads him, and not from a mandate or law. I ended with a dive in to Malachi 3 and why it isn’t the best way to encourage giving within the Body of Christ.

I do not think that my thoughts in these posts are original or ground-breaking in any sense of the word.

I’m not the first and definitely not the last to write about this subject, I am just another voice.  Hopefully my particular voice – the way I think, write and communicate about a certain topic – helps people think through things like this; that they know they aren’t alone and that it is ok to search and question.  Questions are good and you can find Life in them.  Take these things to the Father.  He will show you Truth.

So, without further ado… let’s throw some more meat on the grill, shall we?

Father Abraham (had many tithes…)

Now, I use to be one of the guys up on the podium who would try to smack his (very) amateur theological chops and use what is called the “Law of First Mention” to prove tithing as a correct practice by pointing to Abraham. 

Briefly, for those who didn’t click the link, the Law of First Mention is a way to interpret Scripture by looking at the first mention/occurrence of a certain subject in Scripture; this “first” establishes an unchangeable pattern and sets the tone by which the rest of Scripture is to be interpreted. However, as the linked to article briefly explains regarding that law/principle, “First mentions can be helpful and useful in our study of the Bible. The law of first mention is not a rigid standard, but a helpful guideline when used along with other rules of solid hermeneutics.”

So, using this Law, I would reference Abraham’s example:

¹⁸ Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. ¹⁹ And he blessed him and said:

“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
²⁰ And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

And he gave him a tithe of all.

Genesis 14: 18 – 20

Melchizedek seems to have been mystified a lot. Depending on the rabbit hole you want to go down, one could draw some interesting conclusions about him. After all, he is interpreted as a type or shadow of Jesus with some even going so far as to theorize he is the Pre-Incarnate Christ. After his encounter with Abram, the next mention we have of this priest is in David’s 110th Psalm, which speaks of the reign of the Messiah. After that, the next time we see him mentioned is in Paul’s writing to the Hebrews where he spends a great deal of time going in to the topic of this High Priest. Paul’s whole point being Jesus, the perfect and final High Priest, mind you. It would be safe to assume that their was something “known” or understood about Melchizedek by the Jewish/Hebrew readers of the Torah and the Jewish converts of Jesus. But to Gentiles, I think it is safe to assume that he would be an almost entirely foreign concept.

The question then, using the Law of First Mention, is this: Since we Christians are blessed with Abraham’s blessings and even Abraham tithed before the Law and since good old Melchizedek is looked at as a type and shadow of Jesus, our Perfect and Final High Priest, then we should do as Abraham did and tithe…right?

Maybe.

I just don’t think, from my current understanding, that Abraham is a good example to “prove tithing” as a requirement. It also never stated that Melchizedek asked or required of Abram a tenth of all. It just says Abram gave a tenth of all.

I do find validity in the “Law of First Mention”. Regarding giving and offerings to God, for example. We do not see a requirement being made for them to do it. Abel gave to God by faith – willingly, cheerfully it seems – and Cain didn’t. It demonstrates to us that God approves of our actions when they are motivated and done freely in faith; not grudgingly, greedily, or even in competition to our brothers and sisters. As another example, all the mentions of blood, from the first to the last show us how precious and meaningful the Blood of Jesus was and is.

And Many Tithes Had Father Abraham

It is true that Abraham tithed before it was ever required by the Old Covenant Law.  All those eleven-plus years ago, when I was initially doing my research and studying, I read different viewpoints about how Abraham’s tithing was based on old Arab or old Heathen/Pagan traditions. While interesting, I didn’t put much stock in that.  The point is, he did give a tenth.  Yes, his account of giving a tenth was the first mentioned in Scripture.

However… one important thing that is left out of using the example of Abraham tithing is what he tithed and how he did it. Whether this is important or not, he was still being called Abram, not Abraham, at this point in his story.  Although God was leading him and blessing him, He had yet to make the covenant with Abram where God changed his name to Abraham.

To set up the how and why of Abram’s tithe, the story in Genesis 14:1-12 goes like this:  A group of kings basically made an alliance and went to war against another group of kings.  Four kings against five.  Epically this is supposedly known as “The Battle of the Nine Kings” – sounds like it is straight out of Tolkien! Apparently the second group had been harassed or “under the thumb” of at least one of the kings for about twelve years when they decided enough was enough and revolted in the thirteenth year after gathering together and joining armies in the Valley of Siddim (interesting note, this area where the southern part of the Dead Sea is now located, or just south of it). 

The first group of kings went on a rampage defeating other territories and then came back to wage war in the Valley with the second group they originally had set their sights on.  Battle ensued, the first group was the victor and it is mentioned that they took all of the possessions, food, and equipment of the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, including Lot, Abram’s nephew and everything Lot owned also.

The rest of the account is Genesis 14: 13-17.  Abram wasn’t active in this fight until they captured his family, someone came and told him about all that happened.  Abram decided to fight and did so in a manner that the kings didn’t expect. Instead of attrition warfare (lining up your armies and going for it) he fought using maneuver (guerilla) warfare – he broke his army up into small groups and attacked by night.  Hitting them again and again, Abram’s little band of ancient guerillas kept chasing them down as the armies kept running away, until they recovered all of the plunder, his nephew Lot along with his possessions and apparently all the women and people who had been captured.

Enter Mystical Melichizidek

It is at this point in the story that Melchizidek arrives, blesses Abram and then Abram gives Melchizidek a tithe(Gen. 14:18-20). Some translations actually say “Abram gave him a tenth of all the recovered plunder”, where some translations just say “and he gave him a tenth of all”, normally the latter is used over the former.  Obviously you could see why, “a tenth of all” is a lot easier to use than “a tenth of all the recovered plunder”. So, in this “first mention” a tenth of the spoils and plunder of that battle are given, not his own income or property. As we read further into the text, Abram gives the other 90% back to the King of Sodom (Gen 14: 21 – 24).

You remember Sodom, right? That Sodom? Abram gave the rest away to the King of Sodom.

Let that sink in…

After this interaction with Melchizedek, there are no other recorded instances of Abram or Abraham giving a tenth to a priest or any other holy man of God. One could safely assume that Abram/Abraham on some level of regularity, gave offerings to God. Right after his interaction with Melchizedek and the King of Sodom, God visits Abram and he sacrifices animals to him and it is here that God tells him that his descendants will be like the stars in the sky. Later on, God changes his name and further seals the covenant between them. And then, of course, we have Abraham’s test with his son Isaac, which is only a type and shadow of what the Father of All Creation would actually do through His Son, Jesus.

So, if you want to use Abraham’s example as proof of tithing via “Law of First Mention”, here is a modern-day checklist: 

• Go to war and win
• Bring all the spoils back and give 10% to a local church, pastor, priest, etc.
• Freely give the 90% away to the leader of a crooked and depraved organization

Since there aren’t many Soldiers of Fortune/Guns for Hire nowadays, so just replace the “go to war and win” bit with taking a hard won work bonus.

Any takers?

In closing out the discussion on Abram and that first mention, I concede that it is a good example of giving to God – because it seems he gave without coercion and without needing to or having to. Sounds a lot like 2 Corinthians 9…

Personally, I think we have a better case to give to God freely, in a cheerful and willing manner; most importantly by faith, as led by the Spirit and “as each one has purposed in his own heart” by using the examples of: Abram’s willingness to give, Paul’s exhortation in 2 Corinthians 9, and Abel (as expounded upon in Hebrews 11).

Okay, let’s take a break here. 

In my original installment of part 2, I went back in to the Malachi example for a hot minute, but I think I’m beating a dead cow there. Who knows, I may put it out as a bonus post later, or if there is room in Part 3 and it makes sense, I’ll do it then.

Enjoy your steak and stay tuned for Part 3!

Grilling Sacred Cows – The Tithe: Part 1

I passed an interesting milestone this year without much fanfare. May 2013 marked ten years since I started this blog. In July of the same year, a three-part series, “Grilling Sacred Cows” which focused on tithing was released. The original posts can still be found on the blog, if you scroll back far enough. Here, ten years later, I take a look at these articles and present an edited, clarified and up-to-date version. Bon Appetit!

Tom

A Little Back Story

Ahhhhh, the tithe… this brings me back.

I attended two churches faithfully as a young adult. Eight years at the first one before the Pastor relocated and dissolved the church. About three years at the second one before I left. Eleven years in and now eleven years out. At both of those churches, tithing was taught often. I would dare say it was taught more than Salvation itself. And if tithes and offerings were low, there were the “family talks” – sermons talking about both the needs of the church and the requirements and benefits of tithes and offerings. Back then, one couldn’t escape DayStar TV, TBN or Christian Radio without hearing some pastor or evangelist preaching on tithing and giving also. The “beg-a-thons” “praise-a-thons” were the worst. I’ve literally heard people say you are robbing God if you enjoyed a sermon or a program and did not give to a particular media “ministry”.

Back then, people used “tithing” and “giving” interchangeably – a personal pet peeve of mine, even today. As this three-part series unfolds, I’m confident you will understand why. Now, over a decade later, having picked up a few Christian podcasts, it doesn’t seem like things have changed much. All of them often “remind” people to give to their ministries, one of them in particular likes to touch on my aforementioned personal pet peeve quite often.

I think it is very important that you know that I was a faithful tither at both of those churches. Every single paycheck that I have received, I gave 10% of my gross income (yes gross, not net – I was fanatical about tithing) without blinking an eye. I even gave tithes off of my tax returns! On Sunday mornings and Wednesday evening church services, I taught and took up the offerings. For ten years, I tithed and gave, every paycheck until November 2011, on a single income family, with multiple children and a stay-at-home wife and mother to my children. I was that fanatical about the practice of tithing.

I believed in tithing.

When I began to question church beliefs and practices – because tithing wasn’t the only thing on my radar – I was questioning these things in light of what was accomplished on our behalf in the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I was questioning how the Old Covenant was completed and fulfilled, and what the Holy Spirit being generously given to us at Pentecost meant for us as Christians.

As I dug into this particular doctrine and came to conclusions that were contrary to what my pastors, leaders and favorite ministers taught; I struggled with feelings of ungratefulness  and fear.

How could I not believe what these good men and women were teaching me after all these years? 

How could I be so ungrateful, after all they had done for you, and potentially hurt their income?

Lets face it: Unless there are passive income streams coming in to the church, tithing is the largest stream of income for any church. To not believe in tithing is akin to “robbing” the church, shutting the lights off, barring the doors and taking away paychecks. The preaching and practicing of tithing, as is harped on from the pulpit and by evangelists, helps to “guarantee” those paychecks.

I was also afraid that if I began to question this directly with my leaders and show them what I had learned, I would be labeled a doubter; divisive or having “the spirit of division” and that I would be deemed “incapable” of serving the church. I wanted to help people and at the time I thought the only “holy” way to do that was inside the church walls, under some sort of “covering” or “approval” of the leaders and pastors. If I lost those things, I’d be “untouchable”.

I was deep in the culture of the church.

Well, all that fear and guilt has come and gone; the price has been paid, no real regrets.  I didn’t get burned at the stake but asking questions and taking a stand did come at a cost. I was definitely labeled divisive, dismissed as “hurt”, and more.

Martin Luther Mini-Me or Wanna-Be

My humble little 95 Theses, respectfully done, with no anger, ridicule or accusations was published on Facebook back when it had the “Notes” feature (it has since been deleted) in late September or early October 2011. It was a Saturday, I remember that because the next morning, I woke up bleary-eyed to the sound of my phone receiving six continuous texts from the pastor’s wife and it was a Sunday morning.  She was upset to say the least.

She was all over the place:

• I was very gifted and smart
• The devil wants to use my brains and gifts for his purposes
• I am trying to destroy everything I once loved in ministry
• I had unresolved issues with leadership
• she and the head pastor would like to have a meeting with me. 

Like Han Solo says in Star Wars:  “Must’ve hit pretty close to the mark to get her all riled up like that, huh, kid?” I took the high road and assured her that I wasn’t trying to destroy anything and that I wouldn’t mind meeting with them near the end of the month. At the time I was preparing for something important at work which was taking much of my free time. The next time I would hear from either the Head Pastor or his wife was four months later. During those four months I had led my family out of the church. When the Pastor called, he said he wanted to “catch up” with me and see “where we had been”. I remember him telling me, very matter-of-fact-like, that he had a Scripture that would “cancel everything” that I had wrote and claimed about tithing. I smiled, (admittedly arrogantly) at his challenge and said, “I bet you do.” He never said what the verse was…and I’ve never found one.

A few months after that call, I started this blog.

The funny part about what I shared then and what I’ll be sharing here and in the following two parts, is that I’m not encouraging less giving! Rather, I am arguing and encouraging the Body of Christ to not be bound to the Law which, I believe, should free Christians to give more!  The problem church leaders have is that this stance takes Christians to giving wherever the Spirit of God leads them. That direction might not necessarily be to their church building, it might be less or none to the church building and more throughout the Body, directly to widows, orphans and the poor or to other ministries where the money goes further and directly to the need instead of paying for everything that goes to keeping a multi-million dollar property up and running.

Of course, a guy who played Judas would say that, wouldn’t he?!

If you want to give to a local church, that’s great, give generously! Just don’t give because you think that you’ll be cursed if you don’t or because you need to meet a requirement or expectation of an already fulfilled law.

The practice (the observation and obedience to the Law of Tithing) should stop, not the free-will offerings and giving of believers!

A Good Question

Questions are good.

What did the Cross accomplish?

What did the Resurrection accomplish?

Am I practicing and walking out my faith in line with what Jesus accomplished and provided for me?

Am I am understanding, seeing and learning Scripture in line with Jesus?

Is what I am seeing taught/preached/practiced by church leadership in line with Jesus?

These questions, or questions similar to them, are what led me to look at things like Tithing so harshly. In all honesty, I should review these questions again for my own personal life and benefit.

From what I understand, the only way for a believer to “rightly divide the word” (2 Tim 2:15) is by The Word, Jesus Christ. By dividing what is Old Covenant vs. what is New Covenant. Understanding that yes, “all scripture is given to us” (2 Tim 3:16-17) but no, not all scripture is for us to obey. At that last one, I know it sounds like heresy, but here is a simple example: Jesus became our sacrifice, and we no longer sacrifice at the Temple. Yet, the scriptures in the OT command us to sacrifice animals. We now see that these commands were in place until The Sacrifice came.

You see?

Don’t take my word on that, do you remember what Jesus said to the Pharisees about the Scriptures and their purpose?

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.”

John 5:39

There’s a saying that goes something like, “If it ain’t King James, it ain’t Bible”, I can’t help but read that in a southern accent. Well, I say, “If it don’t point to Jesus, it ain’t Christian.” (again, southern accent).

People Who Teach Tithing Aren’t Bad

Remember, I used to teach it, preach it and faithfully practiced what I preached. And from my current understanding of Scripture, I admit that I was wrong in teaching it and believing in it. Most people who believe in this are very sincere, good people.  They are practicing this out of a genuine sincerity to want to please God and “do good” by Him.  It’s not the people I am “going after”, I am going after the teaching... and maybe those who teach it while knowing Christians aren’t under the Law.

Tithing is “Biblical” in the sense that yes, it is found in the Scriptures. But it ain’t Christian. In light of Jesus Christ; in light of Him fulfilling the Law: it ain’t Christian. Its Biblical for Jews under the Law, but not for me. I have always been and will always be a Gentile (a non-Jew); the Law was never meant for me.  It’s only purpose for me, as I review the Law is to point me to my need for a Savior – and it does. The Ten Commandments are more than enough to bring anyone to their knees, especially in light of how high Jesus placed the bar when he amplified the Commandments to dealing with the inner life of the mind and heart! For Christians to ponder this, look no further than those beautiful treatises which we know as the book of Romans and the book of Hebrews! Is it any wonder why Jesus personally converted a Pharisee who zealously knew the Scriptures?

I personally think the great majority of these genuine and sincere believers are misled regarding tithing, not out of their own doing, but out of traditional teachings that have been passed on from one believer to the next, from one pastor/preacher/teacher/evangelist to the next from one Christianity 101 Membership class to the next. I think Jesus says something about traditions of men making the word of God of no effect (Mark 7:12-13) For some reason or another, the connections aren’t made and they just assume that these teachings must be correct without really questioning it themselves.  I did the same thing.  Its hard questioning the understanding of those you love and respect. Just because someone has an incorrect mindset or mentality, doesn’t necessarily make them the enemy.  Remember, we are called to renew our minds (Romans 12:2) and be free in Christ (Romans 8:1-3)! 

So, with all that back story, preamble and prologue: let’s cut some steaks off this cow, grind it into patties and get to grilling!

Tithing Is Old Covenant

The Malachi Model:

“Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
⁹ You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
¹⁰ Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.

¹¹ “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the Lord of hosts;
¹² “And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the Lord of hosts.

Malachi 3: 8 – 12, New King James Version

Tithe literally means “tenth”, ten percent. In context of church, it is ten percent of your income, anything over this is considered an offering. We are taught that we should give both of these cheerfully, happily, looking at them as a form of worship.  It is taught that tithing enables God to bless us and to remove curses that are on our lives and pour out blessings that we don’t have room enough to receive.  This is backed up by the famous scripture above from Malachi 3 and also social proof in the form of testimonies, usually along the lines of how one person wasn’t tithing and then they did tithe and then God blessed them.

I have a really, really hard time with this method of teaching and ‘proving’ that tithing is what we ‘should’ do and that its required.  I suspect that one of the reasons we don’t see free-flowing, community changing, overly abundant giving like in the book of Acts and in the Epistles is because the law of tithing is being held over our heads and being taught as obligatory.  So we give 10%, doing our duty and then we rarely, if ever, give to anything else unless it’s through the channels of our local church.

From my reading of Scripture, the commandment to tithe and the instructions in Malachi 3, do not apply to us as believers IN Christ. 

In terms of Scripture, the tithe isn’t just money. The tithe included: livestock, grain and seeds (including a tenth of its increase every year), fruits and vegetables, wine, oil and anything over and above it is considered an offering. One could safely assume that the tithing on the increase applied to everything. All of these forms of tithes were in turn given to the Levites, the tribe in charge of all priestly duties – and they also had to tithe off of what was received.

The storehouse/storeroom was in the House of God, The Temple. Where sacrifices and offerings where done and where God directed his people. This is where the church now turns this teaching to say that the storehouse is the local church. Except, we are now individually the temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

Malachi 3 was written to the Judean people, and it appears it is directed specifically at its priesthood who were not tithing according to the Law’s requirement and from what they did offer up, it wasn’t the best. It was an insult to God.

Remember Jesus didn’t come to destroy the Law but to FULFILL it.  Once it was fulfilled, it was done away with and the New Covenant was laid down.  This is covered in fairly good detail in Scripture.  Jesus said it best:  It is Finished!

And as far as the curse mentioned in Malachi 3… let us turn to a time, after the Cross, when our dear converted Pharisee, Paul writes to the Galatians.

¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” ¹¹ But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” ¹² Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” ¹³ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), ¹⁴ that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Galatians 3:10-14

If we are redeemed from the Curse of the Law – how can Malachi 3’s curse STILL apply to us? This is why Paul’s writings are so crucial to the church! Even Peter kept bouncing back and forth between the Law and the Cross and Paul took him to task for it!

Closing Thoughts

Do you know what “falling from Grace” means according to Scripture? Let’s see what Paul has to say:

 ⁴ You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 

Galatians 5:4

Trying to fulfill any portion of the Law when Jesus has already done so is the only definition of “falling from Grace”.  We don’t fall from Grace by sinning, Jesus knows you and I aren’t perfect so we can’t fall from Grace by sinning, He knows we need the sin covering sacrifice of the Cross. We fall from grace by trying to go back to the Law, which always ends up with us trying to earn salvation and righteousness.

We do have “curses” of financial ignorance or lack of financial self-control, but these are self-imposed and perhaps even cultural or familial imposed “curses”. These are a lack of understanding how to use money, spending and borrowing above our means, large debts, lack of self-control in our purchases, not knowing how to properly balance and manage a bank account in order to avoid over-drafting and getting fees…get the picture?  We still have poverty, too. This can feel or look like a curse in and of itself, but it’s not something that God has sent as punishment for not tithing!

Thanks for reading! In Part 2, we’ll discuss the Abraham Example and a few other things.  Stay tuned, that will be published in a few days!

Meandering: Judas, John and Me

I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from the last post so thank you for that, friends and readers. I used to be eager to share things about Jesus that I would find in my readings of the New Testament or, as with “When Every Tear Is Wiped Away, things that I would be chewing on or daydreaming about.

A lot has happened in the last 12+ years since I was a sharing from behind a pulpit for young adults and teens. I’m not so quick to share anymore. A couple months ago over some coffee, I confessed my hesitation to share with a friend. We didn’t fully unpack it, but I mentioned how I’m more inclined to just be quiet. Another friend recently asked me about this blog after having enjoyed the most recent piece I’d shared, he was curious if I’d written anything else. I casually said something like, “Well, as inspiration comes, but it’s not as often.”.

The truth is that yes, I’d love to share and in meaningful ways. I want it to be good. Edification. Humor. Life. Authenticity. Encouragement. So, is this hesitation a form of humility or selfishness or wisdom or imposter syndrome or something else entirely? All of the above? Over the last few weeks, I’ve admitted to myself, that I’m allowing things to sit for too long in order to “get it right”. That definitely hits the mark. It is ridiculous how much I pour over something, even when I am “striking when the iron it hot”, before I put it out there. So I’m working on that. Finishing is better than perfection.

A few weeks ago, I began looking over some of the dusty digital drafts I had written out over the last couple years to see if anything was worth sharing. And I found this little gem. It originally started out trying to do a comedic piece but it just kept morphing and meandering as I went along editing and adding to it (It was during editing this piece that I admitted my perfectionistic issue.) The original piece was about good ole Judas… if one can say it like that. And Judas is definitely part of the final piece.

You know, I played Judas once in a play, quite convincingly, I might add… not sure if that’s a good thing or bad thing. Did you know that there are people who will pray for you, if you play Judas, to protect you from any spiritual influence? Well… at least that’s how it happened in my old church. I guess I was really convincing! I wonder what they think of me now…

But I digress, none of that matters, on with the meat of this thing!

Have you ever considered that we read the Scriptures from a certain vantage point?

Namely: We know how it all ends. We know the story.

In Western society, who doesn’t know, at least the 30,000 foot view of thing, Jesus’s story and the Gospel? From Christmas to Easter, I’d dare say that even a new believer “knows” the majority of the story from the two Holidays. Christmas, His Birth, Easter his Death and Resurrection.

Have you ever considered that because of this vantage point, that when we are reading the Gospels, we kind of just go along with the narrative presented without much pause. There are many times where the Disciples just don’t seem to “get it” and shake our heads and laugh and move on to the next verse. Sometimes the author clues us in with something like, “they didn’t yet know that this referred to the Messiah” but we, with a nod and wink, already knew that! Oh, silly Disciples, in one hand you are puzzled and in the other you confess and cry out “You are the Messiah!”, over and over.

Silly, silly, clueless Disciples… how could you not know?

Now, this isn’t meant to cast doubt nor is it meant as a cynical look at the accounts presented in the Gospel. I personally find much humor in the Disciples not “getting it” multiple times over the course of their time with Jesus. Given the Miracles, Signs and Wonders that they saw, and (at least from my impression) while not every Jew was a scholar of the Torah, Major and Minor Prophets, etc., they were passed down teachings, especially of the Messiah. So you’d think they’d at least connect the dots better. They had to be familiar with the Scriptures. One proof we have is after His Resurrection, Jesus disguises himself and walks along a road, recounting all the Scriptures of the Old Testament that point to Him and what must happen and the two disciples still don’t seem to get it. They even confess that their heart were “burning within them” as He spoke, yet it doesn’t seem like they were super stoked and accepting of it. That is, until Jesus reveals Himself and then with a wink, teleports himself away. Yeah, teleportation. I said it. It’s Christian. We claim that. Don’t like it, talk to the Lordt.

Anyways…

To me, these things show a degree of humanity in the Disciples that is to be cherished and appreciated. Firstly, that just like us when we are looking at something blatantly obvious (or so it would seem) we just don’t get it, and secondly, that they admitted to it as the Gospels are being written for posterity and the strengthening of the young Church! How many of us would be so humble and bold in transparency? “Yeah… we were taught X, Y and Z about the Messiah, and here He was doing those exact things and man, we just didn’t get it until later!”

“It happened this way…”
“Really, it happened that way? Are you sure?”
“Yeah… embarrassing as it may seem, it happened like that.”

Moving on…

You always remember the traitor in your own stories, don’t you? Yes, we’re encouraged to forgive and we should. Jesus shows us that multiple times in the Scriptures, both with the famous “Seventy times seven” forgiveness instructions, but also as He demonstrated it on the Cross in real time, “Forgive them, they know not what they do…”

But even in the forgiving, we remember those who betrayed us, right?

I certainly do, I’m human.

When it comes to Judas, the Gospels make sure to mention early on who the betrayer of Jesus is. Ever stopped to see how quickly most accounts move on after revealing Judas. It goes something like, “…and also Judas, who betrayed Jesus, was there and then they were walking along the road”. Wait a minute… what did Judas do?!

It seems like Judas was a common name. Even one of Jesus’s brothers is named Judas and what strikes me here is that this isn’t written as an author would write it. Or at least, how I would write it if I were writing a story. I think I’d do it differently, only revealing Judas when it was absolutely necessary. It seems to me it is written to clarify which Judas it was, which is something that would be done when trying to recall events.

Imagine telling the story to Luke, for example, or Matthew or Mark recalling the story:

“And Judas was there too-“
“Jesus’s brother?”
“No, Judas-” (said with emphasis)
“From Galilee?”
“No, the one who betrayed Him!”
“Ohhhh… Judas! Why didn’t you just say that?”
“…..” Annoyed look intensifying.

One incident in particular stands out to me in regards to Judas is when he is revealed as the betrayer of Jesus to the group, mind you. Let’s go to my favorite Gospel, the Gospel According to John, it starts like this in Chapter 13:

Jesus: “One of you will betray me.”
Disciples: looking at each other “Omg! For real? What?! Who?!”
Jesus: “I’ll dip this piece of bread and give it to the betrayer.”
Disciples: “K.”
Jesus: Dips it exactly as he said he would and then gives it to Judas, “Do what you’re going to do quickly.”
Disciples: (crickets) “Hey, can you pass the hummus after you’re done?”

John 13… slightly embellished and modified

Now this seems like an open and shut case, right? If you look further back in John’s Gospel, Jesus even quotes a Scripture about it! Let’s also take in to account exactly who is here at this intimate gathering, shall we? You have James and John, the, “Sons of Thunder”, those were the two who wanted fire called down from Heaven to nuke some Samaritan village for rejecting Jesus, remember? Then there is Peter, who in just a short time after the Last Supper, cuts off a guy’s ear at the Garden of Gethsemane to defend Jesus. That incident made it into all four Gospels (and John makes sure to say it was Peter).

So you’ve got these three characters present among the disciples, and Jesus plainly reveals who the betrayer is…don’t you think that Judas wouldn’t have been able to make it out of the upper room without Jesus having to intervene in a major way?

Instead… it goes like this, here’s the account in a fuller context:

¹⁸ “What I am saying does not refer to all of you. I know the ones I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who eats my bread has turned against me.’ ¹⁹ I am telling you this now, before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I am he. ²⁰ I tell you the solemn truth, whoever accepts the one I send accepts me, and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”²¹ When he had said these things, Jesus was greatly distressed in spirit, and testified, “I tell you the solemn truth, one of you will betray me.” ²² The disciples began to look at one another, worried and perplexed to know which of them he was talking about. ²³ One of his disciples, the one Jesus loved, was at the table to the right of Jesus in a place of honor. ²⁴ So Simon Peter gestured to this disciple to ask Jesus who it was he was referring to. ²⁵ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved leaned back against Jesus’ chest and asked him, “Lord, who is it?” ²⁶ Jesus replied, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread after I have dipped it in the dish.” Then he dipped the piece of bread in the dish and gave it to Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son. ²⁷ And after Judas took the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” ²⁸ (Now none of those present at the table understood why Jesus said this to Judas. ²⁹ Some thought that, because Judas had the money box, Jesus was telling him to buy whatever they needed for the feast, or to give something to the poor.) ³⁰ Judas took the piece of bread and went out immediately. (Now it was night.)

John 18: 21-30 New English Translation (underline added for emphasis)

None of those present at the table understood why Jesus said this to Judas?!

Really?!

Really.

Quick recap:

Jesus: “So, there’s a scripture that says someone who eats bread with me with betray me, and yeah, someone is going to betray me.”
Peter: “What!? Who? John… John, ask him who it is!”
John: “Who is the traitor, Jesus?”
Jesus: “The one I give this piece of bread to…” Proceeds to give bread to Judas
Disciples: “Why’d he say and do that to Judas?”

In another account, Judas is seen asking “Is it me?” and Jesus basically says, “Yep.” and the very next verse then skips right to, “And as they were eating…” as if a major plot point wasn’t just revealed.

Think about how people would react, if in their favorite Netflix series, a major plot twist or character reveal is supposed to happen and its just glossed over? Talk about the social media outrage!

John’s Gospel, is quite different from the other three Gospels, known as the “Synoptic Gospels”, since they all follow a very similar pattern and storyline compared to John’s. His is more personal. He is looking back on his life with Jesus and revealing Jesus as God and having very little overlap with the events in the Synoptic Gospels. John definitely remembered the traitor in his and His Lord’s story. He seems to go in to the most detail. Above all the other Gospels, anytime Judas is mentioned in John’s Gospel, it is followed up with the clarification about which Judas it was. And its definitely a handful.

Man… this has been quite the meandering, hasn’t it? Thank you for making it this far. Taking all that I have written in this piece, let me close with a few quotes and questions.

“We are very good lawyers for our own mistakes, and very good judges for the mistakes of others”.

Paulo Coehlo

³³ Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 

Paul, Romans 8:33-34, New King James Version

• How much do I think, on the other side of Eternity, will be painfully, embarrassingly and hilariously obvious to me regarding my walk with God and the journey of my life?
• How much glossing over do I do when The Traitor, his minions and devices are blatantly revealed at work in my own life?
• Instead of being my own lawyer, what do I need to bring before Jesus, my Lawyer, Intercessor, High Priest, Judge and Vindicator today?
• Do I trust that whatever sin I bring before God is paid for by the Finished Work of The Cross (what Jesus accomplished through His Death, Burial and Resurrection)?